Interlocking sheet-metal piling.



S. T. FIERO. INTERLOGKING SHEET METAL FILING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1908,

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Elvweuto: J. 7772er0:

Wit" coma:

6 m av m a vented certain new and form of piling.

- is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1

SLATER T. FIERO, OF PITTSBU'HG, ll'lXNSYLVAXlA.

INTERLOCKING- SHEET-EETAL FILING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented l eb. is, 1909.

Application filed April *1, 1908. Serial No. 425.668.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SLATER '1. Franc, a citizen of the United States of America, residingat Pittsburgin'the county. of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, have inments in Interlocking Sheet-Metal Pilings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to interlocking sheet metal piling, as -ordinarily used in the construction of abutments, piers, retaining 'walls, cofferdzgms and submarine structures.

The primary object of tins invention is to provide a novel reinforced interlocking piling of a light, durable and rigid construction.

A furtherobiect of this invention is to provide interlocking'pilings that can be easily manufactured and assembled.

To this end, I have devised a sheet metal piling having longitudinal reinforcements and hook-shaped interlocking edges, said edges being constructed "to maintain the pilings either in a common plane or intwo parallel lanes with said pilings alternately arrange in parallel planes.

The detail construction entering into my invention will be presently described and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is an'end view of an interlocked reinforced pilingconstru'cted in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a similar vlew of a slight modlfication, Fig. 3

is an end view of a'portion of the piling, il ustrating the formation of the edge thereof, and Fig. 4 is an end view of another modified In the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a sheet of metal provided with angularly. disposed hook-shaped edges 2 and 3, the edge 3 being disposed at an angle oppo site to the edge 2 and in a plane parallel therewith. The sheet of metal adjacent to the hook-shaped edges 2 and 3 is provided upon both sides with longitudinal ribs or reinforcements 4 and 5, these ribs or reinforcements extending from one end of the sheet to the opposite end thereof, with the ribs or reinforcements 4 opposite the ribs or reinforcements 5.

The manner of interlocking two pilings constructed in accordance with m the drawings, where two hook-shaped edges are interuseful Improveinvention looked. it will be observed that the ribs or reinforcements confronting the groove 6, of the'hook-shaped edge prevents the connectingl hook-shaped edge from beingdislodged, 0t er than by a movement longitudinally of the piling, and when the pilings are connected together to reinforce a partition or wall constructed of concrete, the concrete is adapted to enter the small space between the 5 interlocking edges and prevent one piling from moving with respect to the other.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, I have illustrated a piling wherein the hook-shaped edges 3 lie in planes at right angles to one 7 another, said hook-shaped edges being disposed upon one side of the vertical plane of said piling. In other respects the piling of- Fig. 2 is conformable to t e piling of Fi 1.

A modification of my invention is i ustrated in Fi 4 of the drawings, wherein the hook-shape edges 7 are in a plane parallel with the body of the piling, these hookshaped edges being of a slightly different roduceamore snug so" shapein cross section to connection between ad]oining pilings. in sections of this formation, adJoinim pilings will be alternately arranged in paralle planes. As will be understood by reference to the drawings, consists of three parts, viz. the main or body portion (the portion located intermediate the planes of the laterally-extendingribs). and the two edge portions located on the opposite or outer side of'these rib planes. 9()

, Each edge portionin cross-section consists of a return bend, one of the arms of which (the inner) is integral with the ribs, the two arms being substantially-parallel with each other, the two arms being. oined by a curved portion, the whole forming a hook-shaped portion one end of which is joined tothe body portion of the sheet, the curved portion forming one of the side edges-of the sheet. The planes of the arms of the cross-section) are angular with respect to a plane extending at right angles to the plane of the body portion in similar section, in contradistinction to a structure in which thehooks are formed by placing a return bend on 105 il sheet in cross-section 85d edge portions (in f the substantial parallelism of 1 14 thelength of the edge portion and has for its, Walls the inner faces ofthet'wo arms and the similar'face of the curved connecting portion, thereby formii'i'g .a groovewhich (in crosssection) is closed at one end and has substantially parallel side Walls. The groove is not closed at the point of juncture of the arm and rib structure, the free end of the opposite (the outer) arm being spaced from the rib a distance sufiicient to provide an open end for the groove, said end belng 1n opposition to the closed'end of the groove and adjacent the outer faceof the rib toward which the open end of-the groove (the rib 4, for inthe outer arm of the edge portion extends.

By reason of the fact that the inner Wall of stance in Fig. -3) extends at a substantial right angle to the plane of the body-portion (said wall being provided to prevent a withdrawal movement of the'interlocking edge ortions in onedirection), the actual opening the groove.

' or .the groove is at the point of shortest disdrawings, the line of shortest distance which forms theactual opening to the groove is of greater length than the line of shortest distance between the side walls (the width) of Inasmuch as the arms of-the edge portions extend angularly with respect to and tending toward a planeextendlng at right angles to the plane of'the bodyportion, the groove necessarily extends in similar angularity, and

as its 0 en end is adjacent the rib structure,

it will e readily understood that such open end is located at the inner end of the groove, and such inner end is located at a point be tween its outer end and the body portion of the sheet. And while the grooves are 10- cated intermediate the side edges of the sheetformed by the outer faces of the curved connecting portions of the hooks, the outer or closed end of each groove extends to a point closer to the adjacent side edge than the in ner or open end of the groove, so that it will be obvious that the groove extends to a point between its open end and such side edge of the sheet.

By reason of the construction shown, the groovein cross-sectionis closed at all points excepting at its inner end, so that any lateral strains of the sheet will be placed on the free edge of the bend and the part of the bend of the adjacent sheet which opposes said free edge, as in each of the forms'shown while the form shown in Fi s. 1, 2 and 3 provides the additional oblique surfaces to aid in resisting the strain.

I claim as new, is

- In the manufacture of my piling, .the extensions of the body of the piling, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3 can be bent to produce' the hook-shaped edges by .tWo or more passes between rolls, it being preferable to roll/ the hook-shaped edges as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and then produce a completeedge by another pass of the piling, although the passes may beicontinuous. r

It is apparent that when'a partition or wall is constructed of ,aplurality of myilings connected together, that considera le rigidity will be maintained capable of With-. standing internal and external pressures, and that when properly assembled, a plurality of durable interlockin .hnits willbe providednot easily separated by shearing, or similar stresses to which the iling may be subjected,

Having now descri ed invention what 1. A sheet piling member comprising'a metallic sheet having its edge-portionslih cross-section each formed to provide an open ended longitudinally-extending groove, the

open end of the groove being located intermediate the" side edges, of the piling sheet, the groove extending to -a point between its 0- en end and the adjacent side of the piling s eet'.-

2. A sheet piling member comprising a metallic sheet having its edge-portions in v cross-section each formedto provide anope'n ended longitudinally-extending groove, the open end of the groove being located interlOl mediate theside edges of the piling sheet,

the groove extending to a point between its open end and the adjacent side edge of the piling sheet, the groove being of substantially equal width throughout its depth.

3. A sheet piling member comprising a metallic sheet having its edge-portions in cross-section each formed to provide an open ended longitudinally-extending groove, the

open endof the groove being located intermediate the side edges of the piling sheet,

the groove extending to a point between its open end and the adjacent side edge of the piling sheet, the width of the open end of the groove being greater than the length of the shortest distance between the opposing side I walls of the groove.

4. A sheet piling membercomprising a v metallic sheet having its edgemortions in cross-section each formed to provide an open ended longitudinally-extending groove, the open end of the groove being located intermediate the side edges' of the piling sheet, the groove extending to a point between its open end and the adjacent side edge of the piling sheet, the plane of the open end of the groove being angular with respect to the plane of the line of shortest distance between the opposing side walls of the groove.

5. A sheet piling member comprising a metallic sheet having its edge-portions in l in cross-section each formed to provide an CYOSS-St10]1 each formed to rovide an open l open-ended longitudinally-extending groove ended longitudinally-extending groove, the

open end of the groove b inglocated intermediate the side edges of the piling sheet, the groove extending to a; point between its open end and the adjacent side edge of the piling sheet, the plane of the open end of the groove being angular with respect to the plane of the'line of shortest distance between the opposing side walls of the groove, a

line taken at right angles to and extending through the plane of the open end of the groove being parallel-with a line taken at right angles to and extending through the plane of the bodiv-portion of the sheet;-

ing member comprising a i 6. sheet i metallic sheet aving each of its edge portrons in cross-section formed with a return bend having ort'ions extending on opposite sides of the p ane of the body portion of the sheet, the outer arm of the bend extending in a direction tending toward a plane at right angles to and extending throughthe plane of the body-portion of the sheet.

- 7. A sheet iling member comprising a metallic sheet aving each of its edge-portions in cross-section formed with a return bend having parallel portions, the outer portion of which extends in a direction tending toward a plane taken at right angles to and extending through the plane of the bodyortion of the sheet.

8. X sheet piling member comprising a metallic sheet having each of its edgeportions in cross-section formed with a return bend, the outer portion of which extends in a direction tending toward a plane taken at right angles to and extending through the plane of the body portion of the sheet, the plane of said direction being less thana right an le to the plane of the sheet.

9. A sheet piling member comprising a metallic sheet having each of its edgeportions in crosssection formed with a return bend, the outer portion of which extends in a direction tending toward a plane taken at right angles to and extending tl'irougl'x the plane of the body portion of the sheet, the plane of said direction being inclined relative to the plane of the sheet.

edges of the bends being located intermediate the side edges of the piling sheet each free edge being spaced from the" plane of the adjacent side edge of the sheet.

11. Avsheetimetal piling member comprisinga'metallic sheet having itsedge por'tions having substantially parallel side walls, the

open end of the groove being located at one of the lateral ends of the groove, the opposing end of the groove being located a greater distance from a planetaken at right angles to and extending through the main portion of the sheet than the open end of the groove. 12. A sheet metal piling member comprising a metallic sheet having its edge-portions in cross-section each formed to provide an open-ended longitudinally-extending groove, having 'arallel side walls, the open end of the groove eing located at the inner end of the groove.

13. A sheet metal piling member -comprising a metallic sheet having its edge portions in cross-section each formed to provide an open-ended longitudinally-extending groove, the open end of the groove being located at one of the ends of the groove, the distance between the open ends of the grooves of the opposing edge less than the ends of the same grooves. l i 14. Interlocking sheet-metalpiling comprising metallic sheets having inter-engaging edge-portions, each sheet having each of its edge-portions in cross-section formed with an open ended longitudinally extending groove, one wall of each groove being in direct opposition to the similar wall of the groove of the adjacent sheet when the sheets are interlocked, said opposing walls of the grooves having their facial planes extending at an angle to a plane taken at right angles to and extending through the plane of the body of the sheet.

15. Interlocking sheet-metal piling comprising metallic sheets having inter-engaging edge-portions, each sheet having each of its edge-portions in cross-section formed with an open ended longitudinally extending groove the walls of which are of similar configuration, one wall of each groove being in direct opposition to the similar wall of the groove of the adjacent sheet when the sheets are interlocked, said opposing'walls of the grooves having their facial planes'extending 'stance between the close at an angle to a plane taken at right angles 10. A sheet piling member comprising a to and extending through the plane of the body of the sheet.

16. Interlocking sheet-1netal piling comprising metallic sheets having inter-engaging edge-portions, each sheet having each of its edgeportions in cross-section formed with open ended longitudinally extending roove the walls of which are of similar connguration, one wall of each groove being in opposed contact with the similar wall of the groove of the adjacent sheet when the sheets are interlocked, said opposing walls of the-grooves havingtheinfacial planes extend- ;portions of the sheet being ing-at an angle to a plane taken atright angles to and extending through the plane of the body ofthe' sheet.

17. Interlocking sheet-metal piling comprising metallic sheets having inter-enga mg edge-portions, each sheet having each '0 its edge-portions in cross-section formed with an open ended longitudinally extending groove, one wall of each groove being in direct opposition tothe similar Wall of the groove of the' adj acent sheet when the sheets are interlocked, the open end of said groove being located intermediate the side edges of the sheet. x

prising metallic sheets having inter-engaging f edge portions, .each sheet having a longitudinally-extending groove located in each edge-portion, each groove having an open end, one wall of the open end of a groove of one sheet extending within a groove of the adjacent'sheet and engaging a wall of the groove of the latter sheet beyond its open end.

20. Interlocking sheet metal piling comprising metallic sheets having inter-engaging edge-portions, each sheet having its edgeortions in cross-section formed with a return liend to form an open-ended longitudinallyextending groove, said return bend having its plane extending in a direction tending toward a plane at right angles to and extend- .ing through the plane of the bod 'portion of the sheet, the end of the bend being free, the

' free end of one bend extending into the groove of the bend of the adjacent sheet.

' 21. Interlocking sheet metal piling comprising metallic sheets i: axing inter-engaging edge-portions, each sleet having its edge portions in cross-section formed with a return bend to form an open-ended longitudinally extending groove, the end of the bend being free, the free end of one bend extend ing into the groove of the bend of the adjacent sheet, said engaging free ends each forming a barrier against separation of the sheets in a lateral direction.

22. Interlocking sheet-metal piling comprising metallic sheets h aving inter-engaging edgeportions', each sheet having its edge-- portions in cross-section formed with a re; turn bend to form an open-ended longitudinally-extendmg groove,-.the end of the bend signer ing edge-portions, each sheet having its edge-portions in cross-section formedwith a return bend to form an open-ended longitudinall -extending groove, the end of the bend eing free, the free end ofone bend extending into the groove of the bend of the adjacent sheet sald engaging free ends and the opposed Walls forming barriers against separation of the sheets in a lateral direction.

24. Interlocking sheet-metal piling com prising metallic sheets having inter-engaging edge-portions, each sheet having its edgeportions in cross'section formed with a return bend to form an open-ended longitudinally-extending groove, the end of the bend being free, the free end of one bend extending into the groove of the bend of the adjacent sheet the closed ends of the grooves of the engaged bends forming barriers against a separation of the sheets in a lateral direction.

25. A sheet piling member comprising a metallic sheet having each of its edge-portions in cross-sectionformed with a return bend, the outer portion of which is in parallelism with the inner portion of tlie bend and which extends in a direction tending toward a plane taken at right angles to and extending through the lane of tlie sheet, lJlIO plane of said direction eing inclined relative to the )lane of the sheet.

26. nterlocking sheet piling comprising sheet having an open-sided longitudinall disposed groove, the o posingside Walls of which extend in paralleFplanes, tlleopen end of the groove, being located at one of the lateral ends of the groove and in the plane of onev of the side walls of the groove.

27. A sheet piling member comprising a metallic sheet having its edge-portions in cross-section formed with a groove, said sheet having a laterally-projecting rib-structure forming one of t=e end Walls of the groove.

28. A sheet piling member comprising a metallic sheet having its edge-portions in cross-section formed with a return bend to provide a groove, said sheet having-a laterally-extending rib-structure intermediate the body-portion of the sheet and the edge-portion, said rib-structure forming one of the end'walls of the groove.

29. A sheet metal piling member comprising a metallic sheet having its edge poritions in cross-section of similar configuration and each formed to provide an open-ended longitudinally-extendin groove, the open each, formed to provide an oPen-sidedlongiend of the groove being coated at one of the ,tudinally-extending groove, the open end of lateral ends of the roove, the opposing end the groove being located at the inner end-of of the groove being coated a greater distance thejgroove.

5 from a plane taken at right angles to and ex- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature It tending through the main portion of the in the presence of two witnesses.

sheet than the open end'of the groove; SLATER T. FIERO.

30. A sheet metal piling member compris- Witnesses: ing a metallic sheet having its edge portions MAX H. SROLOVITZ,

1o incross-section of similar configuration and K. H. BUTLER. 

